Part 29 (1/2)
That abuck unit with her, unless she had left it soed in his earphone and called ”Barby!”
There was no reply His lips set gri the sound of the Sky Wagon as Scotty warht Rick hurried into the lab and found hi so machine
”Joe, step outside with me for a irls were et the plane frequency on your receiver?”
”Sure It's an all-wave job What's the frequency you use?”
Rick told hi on, so ant to be prepared If some of your Scout leaders can move down the coast to North Cove and keep an eye on the houseboat, Scotty and I will search fro, we'll let you know on the plane's radio You won't be able to talk back, but at least you can hear us, and you can let the Scouts know”
He wished his abuck unit and given it to Joe But there was no tiement probably would do as well
”I'll pass the word to the gang on the reed
Joe went back into the lab while Rick ran to Pirate's Beach Scotty aiting, the plane's engine turning over Together, they launched the Sky Wagon, then climbed in, Scotty in the pilot's seat
As Scotty took off, Rick tried Barby again on the radio ”Barby, this is Rick Can you read h ere heading for Whiteside,” Rick suggested
He rubbed his palms on his handkerchief They were damp with nervous perspiration He was not as cal around on course and Rick scanned the water as they passed over the north side of Spindrift There was no sign of the rowboat yet
The plane traveled in a straight line right across North Cove The houseboat was at anchor a few hundred yards offshore, and the pran of life
The boys reached the Whiteside pier without seeing the girls or the boat Scotty put the plane into a tight circle and looked at Rick helplessly ”Nohat?”
”They can't have gone far,” Rick s,” Scotty pointed out ”They ht But how? If they planned to get aboard the houseboat, they wouldn't be using the aqualungs Or would they?”
”Search me”
”Wouldn't they just row up to the houseboat on soht have taken those clothes Dad wore hoht”
”We can't just float around and talk,” Scotty said urgently ”Let's do so”
Rick felt the sao slow We'll scan the whole coastline fro the little plane barely above stalling speed
Rick leaned out and traced the shore with anxious eyes
The plane turned and twisted as Scotty followed the coastline as accurately as he could They reached the upper tip of North Cove and swung into the cove itself
Scotty tapped Rick on the shoulder and pointed A man and a wo the plane
”Wonder where the other pair is?” Rick asked There was nothing they could do about the people on the houseboat now Let the Rick turned his attention back to the shore below